Banvit vs. Galatasaray

Tough one last night. Galatasaray is the first place team and we should have beat them. We were up most of the game, but gave up a four point lead in the last few minutes to lose it by three, 80-77. Very disappointing to be sure. I played well in the first half of the game, but didn’t leave enough in the tank for the second half. I was quite tired, but still no excuse. I just didn’t get the job done. It was a mental battle for confidence and decisiveness that I, in large part, did not win.

But that is the nature of the game of basketball. Crunch time comes and you need to find a way to finish the game! This one serves as yet another opportunity to learn and thus, improve. If you don’t embrace it as such, you miss the point.

A game like last night’s makes me appreciate athletic competition all the more. There is just so much to learn through the game of basketball, particularly through a game as intense as last night’s. Physically you are exhausted, mentally the same and you have to find a way to get the job done. I can’t wait to be able to help my children learn the lessons that are so difficult for me!

We play again tomorrow in Belgium for a Fiba Eurocup game. There is a limit on foreign players for this league, so there is no guarantee that I’ll play. If I do though, I will make sure to post an update.

Also, here is the link to the ‘bare-bones’ box score. And our team record dropped to 7-9. 8-8 sounds a whole lot better!

Don’t Sweat the Refs Part 2

Last week we noted three reasons why you and I and every other basketball player, should never be consistently frustrated with the referees. This week I offer three things that should characterize how you actually think about the referees.

The reason this is important is because (obviously enough) your thoughts about the referees dictate your feelings and your actions toward them. Our problems in action always flow from our problems in thought. So if we want to relate to the referees in a respectable and encouraging and helpful manner, we are wise to realize that we need to think right thoughts about them. If we aren’t relating well to the officials, we need a renewal of mind, so to speak. Here are three thoughts that in my opinion will serve every single player (and fan and parent) well when it comes to relating to the referees.

1) Remember and embrace the fact that they are human beings.

Yes, yes, I realize that I mentioned this is part 1, however, I don’t think I can say this enough. For just the other day I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with three basketball referees. They were in town to officiate a game I was going to see. I met up with them in the lobby of the hotel in which I am currently staying. We spoke about where they were from, our families, and some European basketball experiences. Nothing much really. The conversation was, in the end, quite normal.

But that is exactly the point. It was a normal conversation with normal people. Not monsters. Not men who are worthy of being treated as if they were subhuman, because they mess up a call. Men with families and friends who enjoy the normal course of life and daily do their jobs. My fellow player (or parent or fan), I urge you to consistently remind yourself that when you look at a referee, you look at a human being. When you feel the urge to yell or curse at an official, ask yourself if you would be willing to do so in any other context of life. First and foremost, we need to consistently recognize that referees are human beings too, worthy of our respect because they are men (or women) just like us.

In the end, if we get this right, I probably don’t need to say much more. Everything else is bound to fall into line.

2) Recognize that they are serving you.

Honestly, have you as a player (or again, fan or parent) ever really thought about a referee like this? Have you ever walked onto the court, saw the referees and thought to yourself, “My how thankful I am for these individuals who are hear to serve me (and every other player and coach and fan) by officiating in this game that I so readily enjoy and want to play?” Is this what comes into your mind? Highly unlikely, I suppose.

But this just shows how warped we naturally are! For as I have said before, the game could not take place without the referees. In a sense, they are doing the “dirty work.” No one really appreciates them in the end. They don’t receive thanks (though they should, particularly when they are officiating some bratty 5th graders with their crazy parents yelling in the stands…and all of that for 10 or 20 bucks). They enable the players to enjoy playing the game and the coaches to enjoy coaching the game and the fans to enjoy watching the game. They are serving others.

Sure, it may be their job. But every job is something of a service of others. That is something we should appreciate about all our jobs. In particular, when it comes to thinking about the referees, I would encourage each of us to consistently remember that they are enabling us to enjoy playing the game. They are serving us. And they deserve our thanks, whether they get all the calls right or not. Indeed, in the end, I think we should actually thank them after each and every game, even if they didn’t have their best night.

3) Recognize that officiating a basketball game is a very difficult job and that you would do a terrible job if called to the same.

It’s true. And you know it don’t you? Most players do realize this, particularly if they have had to work a summer basketball camp and been forced to referee a few camp games during the week. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard fellow players talk about what a terrible job they did officiating their games at camp. And yes, I have said so myself.

But it is not enough to comment on this at camp. We need to remember this every time we walk onto the court. Indeed, we need this reality to sink down so deep into our thoughts that it births in us a fresh appreciation for the officials. They have a very difficult job! Ten players, doing their best to stretch the rules to the utmost. Even more, 10 players who are usually trying to break the rules whenever they can in order to gain the greatest advantage (we’ll talk more about that issue later). Then there are the screaming fans or crazy parents, two groups of coaches in their ears, shot clocks, game clocks, scoreboards, foul calls, traveling calls, backcourt calls, three-second calls, and more! And we think we could do a better job than they!

We are arrogant and foolish to think so. Sure, there might be a player or two who has a natural gift for officiating, but you aren’t one of them! And neither am I. It is a really difficult job, one that we could not do well at all. We are wise to let this reality sink down deep. We are wise to think about this fact until it leads us to relate to the officials with utmost thanksgiving and respect.

Did I just see a bad call? Well, I would have made a worse one. It’s true. And that is exactly how I want to think. For if I can do so, I serve myself and everyone else very well.

Lord willing, I’ll check in with Part 3 next week.

Aiming to think right thoughts about every referee,

Joe

Banvit vs. Darussafaka

This will be a quick one, because it has been a long week for me and it is time for bed here in Bandirma, Turkey.  I started the week with a small groin muscle tear and was consequently, doing rehab work to get ready for today’s game.  Then I got sick yesterday, didn’t eat and ended up in the hospital on an IV (with my wife there on one as well! and the kids hanging out too).  But thankfully I was able to make it through the game today and help the team a bit, though they surely would have done fine without me.

Final score:  Banvit  108  Darussafaka  72.  It was never close really.  Our team played well and their team not so well at all.   I ended up with 9 points on  3 shots (all three-pointers naturally). It was a good game after such a long week.  And as always, it was very enjoyable to play some basketball!  I find myself enjoying it more and more nowadays.

Our next home game is Tuesday, but there is a limit on how many foreign players can play in the European games, so I may not play in that one.  Then we play at home next weekend against the first place team.  I am looking forward to that to say the least.

Checking out for now,

Joe